Cocoon: The Return - Was it REALLY necessary?

Okay, so I finally got around to watching Cocoon: The Return. Look, I appreciate the original Cocoon for its… well, its earnest sentimentality. It’s not a great film, but it had a certain charm. But did we really need a sequel? I'm genuinely asking. I mean, the whole point was that these people chose to leave everything behind for a shot at eternal youth. End of story, right? This sequel felt… contrived. The stakes felt manufactured. The whole “Oh, we miss our families!” thing felt like a pretty weak excuse to undo the ending of the first film. Don Ameche is always great, but even he couldn't save some of this clunky dialogue. And the “environmental message” they tacked on at the end? Seriously? The whole thing felt tacked on, frankly. Did anyone else find Don Ameche's character's renewed youth a bit… jarring? I mean, he went from cute old guy to… well, a slightly younger, more energetic guy. The impact just wasn't the same. There were a few tender moments, sure, but overall, The Return felt like a cash grab that diminished the impact of the original. What are your thoughts? Am I missing something? Was there something genuinely compelling that everyone else saw and I didn't? I'm open to being persuaded. And also, did anyone find the special effects even worse than in the original? I swear, the glowing aliens looked like they were rendered on a Commodore 64. Maybe that’s hyperbole, but still… I'm trying to understand why this film exists. Anyone?